INDIANA IEP RESOURCE CENTER

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Focus On Inclusion 2018 Wraps Up . . .

The seventh annual Focus on Inclusion conference was held on February 1-2, 2018 at the Hyatt Regency in downtown Indianapolis. Session handouts, video highlights, and interviews will be made available here in the upcoming days and weeks - so check back often!

Certificate of Completion

Certificate of Completion

The Office of Special Education, Indiana Department of Education has been leading an effort to examine the Certificate of Completion. The Certificate is a document presented to students with an IEP that have been removed from a diploma path. For the past two years, a group of stakeholders have been meeting regularly to develop a course of study that outlines requirements for the Certificate of Completion that mirror a regular high school diploma. The revised Certificate of Completion requirements will meet new ESSA regulations for providing all students access to academic content standards and will become effective for the 2018-2019 freshman class. For a more detailed explanation of the Certificate of Completion, view the Coffee Talk. For additional resources, click here.

Specially Designed Instruction

IIEP Update to Goals Page:

“Needs” text box has been renamed to “Specially Designed Instruction”

The purpose for this field is to offer a place for teachers and committee members (including parents) to identify in general terms the instruction this student needs in order to make progress academically and, if needed, functionally.

In general Specially Designed Instruction (SDI) is adapting content, methods, or instructional delivery to address the unique needs of a student. (Article 7: 7-32-88)

A “compliant” Specially Designed Instruction (SDI) response would describe the instruction provided to a student through special education. In other words, “What does this student need to learn that special education can provide?”

If a student with a disability is functioning below his or her peers in any academic or functional area, SDI is the instruction applied to address those deficit areas.

SDI is what makes special education “special.”

It is instruction intended to close the academic performance gap between an individual student with disabilities and his general education peers.

The Annual Goal then measures the effectiveness of this specialized instruction.

Educational Perspectives Survey

Last fall the Indiana Department of Education sponsored a survey regarding attitudes towards educating students with disabilities in inclusive settings. We asked Indiana educators and families their personal views about the desirability and feasibility of students with disabilities being included in the general education setting. The results suggest that across Indiana, Hoosiers are very optimistic overall about inclusive practices and the potential for students with disabilities to achieve alongside same age peers. Concerns were raised about how effective implementation can be achieved through practices and resources, and the degree to which the achievement gaps between students with and without disabilities can be addressed. Moving forward, this survey will be sent out annually in October. Please check out the latest ‘Spread the Word’ on this topic here.

Facilitated IEP

A Facilitated IEP (FIEP) is an option available at the request of schools and parents for conflict prevention and resolution. This service is provided at no cost to parents or schools. A trained impartial professional (facilitator) helps the case conference committee with the IEP process.

LRE

Least Restrictive Environment (LRE) is based on the premise that the general education environment is the first choice for educating all individuals. As described in IDEA, individuals with disabilities must be educated with their peers to the maximum extent appropriate and removal of children with disabilities from general education should only occur when education cannot be achieved in the general education environment even when supplementary aids and services are provided. This page includes guidance and additional information in regards to LRE.

Parents & Families

Virtual Office Hours

Virtual Office Hours (VOH) is an open webinar for anyone with questions about the Indiana IEP (IIEP) System or special education. VOH provides direct access to our Indiana IEP consultants. Our staff will share updates and upcoming changes to the IIEP system while answering your questions.